A second candidate has announced his intention to run for the District 5 seat on Kershaw County Council. Councilman Stephen Smoak announced earlier this month he is not seeking reelection after serving two, four-year terms. East Camden businessman Jimmie "Jimbo" Crissman, 37, was born and raised in the Fifth District. He has owned Camden Gold & Silver more than four years and said that experience would be helpful on council.

David Paul Reuwer, a local attorney, historian and tour guide, is announcing his candidacy for Kershaw County Probate Judge. Reuwer said probate judges must be skilled in the laws and administration of wills, estates, trusts, conservatorship and marriage.

A Camden woman with 20 years experience in the legal field has announced her intention to run for Kershaw County Probate Judge. Current Judge Harriett Pierce recently announced she would not seek reelection after serving 38 years.

Sheri Few, a Kershaw County education activist and leading Common Core opponent, announced her candidacy for state superintendent of education Friday, calling the race a "national referendum on Common Core." Few provided the Chronicle-Independent with a press release and a copy of a speech she gave Friday.

Camden insurance agent Dennis G. Arledge plans to run for the District 5 seat on Kershaw County Council. Councilman Stephen Smoak, who currently holds Seat No. 5, recently announced he will not seek reelection after serving two four-year terms. Arledge has owned and operated his Allstate agency for 18 years.

David West said he has such respect for the men he worked for as a Kershaw County deputy coroner, that he waited until the current coroner decided not to run for reelection before officially putting his hat in the ring. West, who once served as deputy coroner for close to 15 years under former Coroner Tommy Horton and current Coroner Johnny Fellers, said he has wanted to be coroner for years.

Local government leaders and state legislators took the opportunity to meet with constituents Wednesday at The ALPHA Center's 10th annual legislative briefing. ALPHA Center Executive Director Paul Napper welcomed the crowd and said the informal event was designed for people to have face-to-face discussions with their representatives in Columbia.

The woman who has served as Kershaw County's probate judge for 36 years announced this week she will not seek reelection. Probate Judge Harriett Pierce said it's time to let someone else take the reins.

Johnny Fellers, Kershaw County's coroner for more than 20 years, will no longer be coroner after this November's election. Fellers, who also served as a deputy coroner for eight years prior to first being elected coroner in 1993, announced Monday he would not be running for reelection this fall.

Kershaw County Council District 5 will have a new representative no matter who wins this November's election. That's because Councilman Stephen Smoak, 39, who has also served as council's vice chairman, is not running for reelection.

For the first time in a generation, Bethune will have a new mayor. In Tuesday's election, Bethune residents chose Charles McCoy as its new mayor. McCoy will take office Jan. 1, replacing Carlisle Davis who has been mayor for 24 years.